SETTING THE SCENE-The University of Cincinnati baseball opens the home portion of its 2013 schedule with a three-game nonconference series versus New York Institute of Technology Friday through Sunday at Marge Schott Stadium.-Game 1 of the series begins 4 p.m. Friday with R-Jr. right-handed pitcher Christian McElroy set to take the mound for the Bearcats.-The second game of the series will start 4:30 p.m. Saturday and feature senior RHP Andrew Strenge, who recorded six strikeouts in his last start Feb. 23 against Furman.-The series finale is scheduled for a 1 p.m. Sunday first pitch. Redshirt freshman Connor Walsh will make his start of 2013 after pitching a team-best five innings with six K's vs. Western Carolina on Feb. 24.-All three games will be video streamed live on GoBearcats.com/BearcatsTV.-Live stats via GameTracker will be provided on GoBearcats.com. -Follow the Bearcats baseball program on Twitter @UCincyBaseball and @CoachClearyUC.

WELCOME HOME, CATS-Cincinnati's game against New York Tech will be the first played in 2013 at Marge Schott Stadium, where the Bearcats have enjoyd a home-field advantage since the end of the 2004 season.-Since the stadium opened on May 20, 2004, UC owns an all-time record of 150 wins and 102 losses at The Schott, which is good for a .595 winning percentage.-Since UC joined the BIG EAST Conference for the 2005 season, the Bearcats are 7-1 in their home openers at The Schott, with their loss coming in 2009.

NOW PITCHING FOR UC ...-UC will hand the ball to redshirt junior right-handed pitcher Christian McElroy in the weekend opener on Friday.-McElroy was selected in the 32nd round of the 2012 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft by the Cincinnati Reds, but opted to remain at UC.-Last season, McElroy appeared in 13 ballgames with nine starts, posted a 4.41 ERA with four wins and 46 strikeouts in 63.1 innings pitched. He finished sixth in the BIG EAST Conference in fewest hits allowed (59) and 12th in opponent batting average (.252), and did not allow a triple the entire season. In three of 13 appearances, he did not allow an earned run.-In two starts in 2013, McElroy has posted a 6.75 ERA in 6.2 innings pitched with one walk and four strikeouts.-Game 2 of the series will feature senior RHP Andrew Strenge, who is looking to bounce back after an injury-plagued junior season.-Strenge was was the team's No. 1 starter for the first four weeks of the season before missing at least three potential starts due to shoulder fatigue. Before the injury, he boasted a 2.33 ERA with 23 strikeouts in 19.1 innings pitched while holding opponents to just a .203 batting average.-The Yardley, Pa. native has taken the mound two games this season, producing a 9.00 ERA with no walks and eight strikeouts in seven innings.-In Strenge's last start against Furman, he surrendered just two earned runs (four overall) in 3 1-3 innings while punching out six and walking none.-Game 3 of the New York Tech series will feature redshirt freshman Connor Walsh, who will made his collegiate debut on Sunday, Feb. 17 at FAU after sitting out the entire 2012 season due to arm surgery.-Walsh allowed three earned runs on four hits with one strikeout and three walks in 3 2-3 innings at FAU.-In his second start on Feb. 24 vs. Western Carolina, Walsh pitch five innings, which is a team high for the Bearcats this year. He gave up four runs, all earned, with six strikeouts and three walks.

OPPONENT BREAKDOWN-New York Tech is coming off a 2012 season that saw the Bears go 5-46 overall and 3-25 in the Great West Conference.-Head coach Bob Malvagna will be making his collegiate managerial debut Friday against UC.-The Bears have yet to play a ballgame this season.-Five Bears earned 2012 Great West Conference All-Academic honors: Robert Loftus, Michael Fermin, Matt DiBiase, John Duggan and Brennen Forster.

THE SERIES VERSUS NEW YORK TECH-Friday's ballgame against the Bears and Bearcats will be the first.